My childhood sweetheart is Nishimiya Glass

Chapter 376 Takoyaki

Tsuna leaned back lazily: "Isn't a scarf nice? It's both pretty and warm."

“Okay…” Ayumi Ajitani nodded, but suddenly changed the subject: “But! You’ve been giving me these for four years in a row, and the one you gave me in first year of middle school is still hanging in the closet!”

"+1," Takagi raised her hand in agreement, "The one you gave me back then is still brand new."

"+1" followed closely by the Western film.

Shoko, standing to the side, silently chewed on her straw, which she had bitten flat, but she couldn't suppress the smile that she was trying so hard to keep.

She lowered her eyelashes, but her thoughts drifted back to her first year of high school.

When we went out to play before Christmas that time, I casually mentioned, "Ayumi and the others must be very happy to receive this gift, right?"

Unexpectedly, this casual thought became the wellspring of inspiration for his laziness.

Since then, I haven't even bothered to pick out gifts. I've done this for four years straight, all for the sake of convenience!

Only my gift is different every year; each one is a unique gift.

"Alright, alright," Tsuna quickly gave in to the three men's gazes, waving his hand, "I'll be more careful next year."

“Actually… the scarf is quite practical,” Takagi suddenly said, gently tapping the gift box tied with a blue ribbon in front of her with her fingertip.

All eyes turned to her, but she smiled and said, "It's just that you always give me the same color, Miyamura..."

"If nothing unexpected happens, I guess mine will still be sea blue, right?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Takagi looked up and met his gaze.

He just smiled faintly and looked away.

"Let's go! Let's go shopping before it gets too late! We have school tomorrow..."

Ayumi Ajiya sighed deeply: "Shoku-chan, you didn't have to say that last hurtful thing."

Shoko smiled and waved her hand, breaking the slightly teasing atmosphere, and quickly gathered the small gifts on the table back into her bag.

With her taking the lead, the others quickly understood and followed suit. Amidst the sound of zippers, the gift boxes in front of them disappeared into their backpacks in the blink of an eye.

All the surprises will be revealed slowly once we get home.

.........

Futaba Shopping Street was completely immersed in the Christmas Eve festivities.

Neon signs and Christmas decorations hanging along the street intertwined and flowed, dazzlingly bright, while the clamor of the crowds rose in waves.

Occasionally, a burst of extremely loud laughter would erupt, only to be instantly drowned out by the clamor of the crowd.

The vendors' faces were bathed in warm yellow light, their sweat glistening yet beaming with smiles, their hands moving swiftly.

Tsuna and Nishikata walked side by side, trailing a few steps behind Shoko and her two friends who were enthusiastically browsing the shops and stalls.

The two were discussing the ending of a newly released shonen manga, their steps occasionally pausing as the girls stopped in front of a particular stall.

Shoko was holding a box of freshly made takoyaki, still steaming hot.

"Tsuna~ Come on~..."

She picked up a bamboo skewer and, without hesitation, poked the first golden, glistening meatball, then turned and offered it to the lips of someone waiting behind her.

Tsuna obediently opened his mouth and took it in one bite, then, because it was too hot, he exhaled several puffs of white mist.

Ayumi Ajitani took the portion handed to her by the stall owner, and not to be outdone, she picked up a piece and offered it to Takagi, who was paying.

Before she could even speak, Takagi understood and opened his mouth to take a bite, but just like Tsuna, he almost spat it out because it was too hot.

"..."

Silently holding a slice of Western-style bread being eaten on the side, I was speechless and couldn't bear to watch any longer.

"Hurry up! There's a goldfish catching game over there!" Ayumi Azumi's clear voice rang out as she pointed her little finger at the crowd not far away.

Upon seeing that everyone had a snack in their hands, she immediately launched a transfer tactic, jumping over first, while Shoko quickly followed without hesitation.

By this time, Tsuna was already carrying three snacks. Before he could even digest them, he had to obediently follow their sweeping pace.

Seeing that Nishikata and the other two behind him hadn't followed, he turned around in confusion and met Takagi's gaze. He immediately understood and nodded, quickening his pace to catch up with Shoko and the other two ahead.

Seeing that Miyamura wisely turned around and chased after the figure ahead, a look of satisfaction flashed in Takagi's eyes.

She stepped forward nimbly, blocking Nishikata's path as he was about to accelerate, a natural smile playing on her lips:
"Nishikata-kun~"

Nishikata paused, "W-what's wrong?"

"I just ate a bit too much at home, and I can't finish these few. Could you help me finish them?"

As she finished speaking, she deliberately winked her left eye at him very quickly, the cunning and lively light flashing and disappearing in the warm glow of the streetlights.

"..."

As Nishikata was stared at and blinked at by her, he felt a surge of heat creep up his neck and up to his ears.

He nodded subconsciously, but a strange thought crept into his mind: 'Was that sweater I wore before leaving the house... a bit too thick? Why do I suddenly feel... a little hot?'

Nishikata reached out to take the box of takoyaki from her hand, but Takagi deftly flipped it over.

The bamboo skewer had already pierced one with precision, and with a slight flick of the wrist, it hovered less than two centimeters in front of his nose:
"Oh... ah~?"

"..."

As Nishikata looked at her playful smile, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and his heart pounded louder than the surrounding noise.

Seeing him standing there blankly, Takagi tilted her head in confusion, a few strands of soft hair falling down and brushing against her trembling eyelashes.

As if bewitched, Nishikata leaned down to bite, his teeth almost brushing against the hot, crispy crust... but the next second!
Takagi chuckled slyly, her wrist deftly twisting and retracting! The small meatball on the bamboo skewer precisely disappeared between her upturned lips and teeth.

She puffed out one cheek, chewing with a hint of pride and satisfaction, and didn't forget to flash a bright smile at the dumbfounded Xipian:

"I'm suddenly a little hungry again~"

Before she finished speaking, she turned gracefully and chased after her playful companions.

…………

"Where's Nishikata?" Tsuna asked, glancing at the empty space behind Takagi.

"They're in the back, just a moment."

Takagi smiled, her steps unwavering. She gracefully stepped past Tsuna and squatted down beside the goldfish scooping stall.

She happened to be standing next to Shoko, who was intently watching the water's surface with a slight frown.

The warm yellow light shone down, and shimmering spots of light danced on their lowered eyelashes.

Tsuna withdrew his gaze, turned back and peered through the surging crowd, landing a few meters away at the takoyaki stall, where he saw Nishikata standing there dumbfounded, grinning foolishly.

Like he's possessed...

Too lazy to go and call him, he took out his phone and dialed, only to see Nishikata suddenly snap out of his daze and hurriedly take out his phone to answer.

"Miya...Miyamura? What's wrong?"

"Come back to reality! Look around."

As soon as he finished speaking, Nishikata looked around and, not seeing Tsuna and the others, quickly asked:

Where are you now? I'm coming to find you.

"The goldfish scooping stall on the left."

(End of this chapter)